Preservation of local heritage earns local residents awards

Truro Daily News

Published: Feb 28, 2014 at midnight

Updated: Sep 30, 2017 at 8 a.m.

Gordon Crowe, left, and Douglas Moffatt were&nbsp; heritage award recipients, among others, in Truro this week. With Moffatt was his granddaughter Erinn Beth Moffatt Langille, who travelled from Toronto to accompany her grandfather during the award presentations at the Colchester Historeum on Thursday night. Monique Chiasson – Truro Daily News

Some local women were given heritage awards from the Colchester Historical Society this week. The recipients were Sharon Corcoran, who was absent and had Joanne Bouley, left, accept on her behalf; Heather Dau; and Pam Gillespei-Tonary, who received a museum-based grant for her heritage home. Monique Chiasson – Truro Daily News

TRURO – Gordon Crowe never thought his research on the Town of Stewiacke would result in an award.

But Crowe’s research and historical audiotape about the town he spent his life in has earned him a Colchester Historical Society heritage award for preserving and promoting the history of Colchester County.

“I’m very honoured,” said Crowe on Thursday night at the annual awards ceremony that have been taking place for more than 30 years in Truro.

Crowe’s tape, entitled Remembering Tomorrow, captures the history of Stewiacke, which was incorporated in 1906, and “it talks about how the town handled change over the years.”

Crowe said he embraced the project because he was asked by a librarian and town officials because “I’m one of the old-timers,” he laughed.

Crowe wasn’t the only award recipient. Three others were given heritage awards, a Town of Truro architecture award was also presented, as was a museum-based grant for a heritage home.

Heather Dau, formerly of Bass River and now living in Ontario, received an award for her efforts to preserve and promote the history of this county through the website everywhereacookcooke.com

“I’m delighted. I’ve been working on this for about 30 years,” said the retired landscape designer who got the idea after living with an aunt, Rachel Cooke, in Bass River.

Dau said having recognition of her work was a proud moment.

“It was like working alone for a long time and you wondered if anyone cared. It means people acknowledge what was done and they care.”

Truro’s Sharon Corcoran received an award for her series of heritage postcards.

“I’m absolutely delighted … I started the series of postcards as my salute to Truro’s built heritage and to reach out to my clients, say ‘hi’ and provide an update on the real estate market,” said Corcoran, with Remax Fairlane Realty, in a prepared letter that was read by Joanne Bouley. Corcoran was out of town during the awards ceremony.

“Each year I thoroughly enjoy choosing a local property to highlight and researching that property’s history,” the note continued.

Corcoran began the series in 1996 and has completed the 16th package in the series.

Truro’s Douglas Moffat’s book Moving Days earned him an award as well. The book is to commemorate Moffatt Moving Company, which operated from 1958 to 1982.

“It’s very nice,” said Moffatt, about the award. He co-wrote the book with his granddaughter Erinn Beth Moffatt Langille, who came from Toronto to attend the ceremony with her grandfather.

They said the book was a way of preserving history as well as saying thank you to family and company workers.

Truro’s Pam Gillespie-Tonary was also honoured. She was recognized as a grant recipient (for an unspecified amount) for her heritage home at 140 Pleasant St. The home is 104 years old and Gillespie-Tonary has spent many hours restoring the back and is about to redo the front of the home.

“I’m delighted,” about the recognition, she said. “Truro has not always kept up its heritage properties. The (heritage) is what makes Truro special.”

The Town of Truro’s architectural preservation award was given to Cam and Gordon Jeffrey for their restoration of 104 Park St.

About 70 people attended the heritage awards night, which also included a shoutout to the Colchester Historical Society’s 60th anniversary. Jordan LeBlanc, curator, said he was “overjoyed” with the event.

LeBlanc said it’s important to celebrate the area’s history

because “sometimes heritage is not appreciated until it’s gone. Events like these and people who preserve them make a difference.”

But Crowe’s research and historical audiotape about the town he spent his life in has earned him a Colchester Historical Society heritage award for preserving and promoting the history of Colchester County.

“I’m very honoured,” said Crowe on Thursday night at the annual awards ceremony that have been taking place for more than 30 years in Truro.

Crowe’s tape, entitled Remembering Tomorrow, captures the history of Stewiacke, which was incorporated in 1906, and “it talks about how the town handled change over the years.”

Crowe said he embraced the project because he was asked by a librarian and town officials because “I’m one of the old-timers,” he laughed.

Crowe wasn’t the only award recipient. Three others were given heritage awards, a Town of Truro architecture award was also presented, as was a museum-based grant for a heritage home.

Heather Dau, formerly of Bass River and now living in Ontario, received an award for her efforts to preserve and promote the history of this county through the website everywhereacookcooke.com

“I’m delighted. I’ve been working on this for about 30 years,” said the retired landscape designer who got the idea after living with an aunt, Rachel Cooke, in Bass River.

Dau said having recognition of her work was a proud moment.

“It was like working alone for a long time and you wondered if anyone cared. It means people acknowledge what was done and they care.”

Truro’s Sharon Corcoran received an award for her series of heritage postcards.

“I’m absolutely delighted … I started the series of postcards as my salute to Truro’s built heritage and to reach out to my clients, say ‘hi’ and provide an update on the real estate market,” said Corcoran, with Remax Fairlane Realty, in a prepared letter that was read by Joanne Bouley. Corcoran was out of town during the awards ceremony.

“Each year I thoroughly enjoy choosing a local property to highlight and researching that property’s history,” the note continued.

Corcoran began the series in 1996 and has completed the 16th package in the series.

Truro’s Douglas Moffat’s book Moving Days earned him an award as well. The book is to commemorate Moffatt Moving Company, which operated from 1958 to 1982.

“It’s very nice,” said Moffatt, about the award. He co-wrote the book with his granddaughter Erinn Beth Moffatt Langille, who came from Toronto to attend the ceremony with her grandfather.

They said the book was a way of preserving history as well as saying thank you to family and company workers.

Truro’s Pam Gillespie-Tonary was also honoured. She was recognized as a grant recipient (for an unspecified amount) for her heritage home at 140 Pleasant St. The home is 104 years old and Gillespie-Tonary has spent many hours restoring the back and is about to redo the front of the home.

“I’m delighted,” about the recognition, she said. “Truro has not always kept up its heritage properties. The (heritage) is what makes Truro special.”

The Town of Truro’s architectural preservation award was given to Cam and Gordon Jeffrey for their restoration of 104 Park St.

About 70 people attended the heritage awards night, which also included a shoutout to the Colchester Historical Society’s 60th anniversary. Jordan LeBlanc, curator, said he was “overjoyed” with the event.

LeBlanc said it’s important to celebrate the area’s history

because “sometimes heritage is not appreciated until it’s gone. Events like these and people who preserve them make a difference.”